Meaningful Movement
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Integrating Physical Health Education into the Classroom
"9% of elementary school students get the recommended 60 minutes of activity they need each day"
(ParticipACTION)
How will you get your students moving?
Background
Physical activity has been an integral part of my life; my elementary and secondary education was supplemented with extracurricular opportunities such as soccer, basketball and volleyball. The hours spent engaging in physical activity increased as I sought out community teams to increase my knowledge and further develop my skill. By grade twelve, I was participating in organized sports six to seven days a week, sometimes twice a day. During my undergraduate degree, I stayed active by joining UBC Recreation and seeking out community leagues. Since completing my undergraduate degree, I have focused on outdoor activities, spending my free time hiking, climbing and ski touring as I explore British Columbia. In reflecting on my life course, physical activity has always enhanced my academia, providing me with a cognitive, social and emotional break from school.
In 2015, I worked alongside the School District #73 Healthy School Coordinator as she implemented movement initiatives into schools to promote life-long fitness. I had the pleasure of working with organizations such as BoksKids, Dance Pl3y and DASH BC to integrate meaningful programing in Kamloops elementary schools. Through this work, I was exposed to recent research that demonstrates a positive correlation between academic achievement and physical activity. Given this correlation, I was surprised by the number of Teacher Candidates who reported their practicum class had only two twenty-to-thirty-minute Physical Health Education periods a week. My experience with physical activity in combination with my practicum experience has lead me to inquire how I can integrate Physical Health Education and movement into the shape of the day to promote life-long fitness. In addition to finding Physical Health Education implementation strategies, I would like to educate myself on current research correlating academia success and movement. Analyzing current research will provide me with a baseline of knowledge, in turn giving me the confidence to engage in meaningful discussion with parent-guardians, administrators and collogues who inquire about my implementation of movement into the classroom.
Why Is This Important?
Researching strategies of implementing Physical Health Education into the shape of the day addresses a significant knowledge gap for myself, my students and fellow Teacher Candidates.
My work experience in 2015 hinted at academic findings that suggest a relationship between academic success and movement, however, I do not have the resources or knowledge to successfully implement Physical Health Education into my practicum class. I think gaining this knowledge will allow me to connect with my students, as I demonstrate a variety of ways for them to engage in life-long fitness. Early in October, my School Advisor asked our students how many of them were engaging in the recommended daily activity. Nine students in a room of thirty were able to report movement. I think informing students on this topic will empower them to make decisions to stay active in ways that suit their individual needs and interests. In addition, I hope exploring movement in new ways and facilitating meaningful discussions will allow them to discover the important role it plays in academia.
In addition to stimulating growth for my students and myself, I think analyzing implementation strategies and prior research will allow me to fill a knowledge gap within our cohort. During our Physical Health Education class discussions, I identified this topic as a knowledge gap as conversations continuously returned to the notion of limited gym access.
Research has shown a correlation between Physical Health Education and school engagement. I would like to further my understanding of this topic so I can engage in conversations with parents, colleagues and administration as I advocate for integration of movement into the school day.
Inquiry Goals
1) to educate myself on the correlation between "academic success" and movement